Introduction

The Christian faith is lived in community. It is a faith that is supremely demonstrated in relationships. Humility, gentleness, and patience are chief virtues of the Christian faith in relationship. We pursue so many things in life, some important and some not. We spend a lot of time on self-improvement – how can we be better? And we should spend time doing that. But above all our other pursuits, we should be focused on pursuing humility and gentleness.

I. Brief Review of Last Week

A. The grace of God in Jesus Christ in your life drives you away from pride/self-centeredness and toward humility in serving others.

B. As children of God, we understand that there is no reason for us to be proud, so pride dies and is replaced with humility.

C. Humility is not so much thinking less of ourselves as it is just thinking of ourselves less – not being so concerned and consumed with ourselves.

D.At the end of the day humility is total and ultimate dependence on another, namely, on God through Jesus Christ – it is all of grace!

1 Pt. 5:5-7– Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to yourelders. Yes, all of yoube submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

II. To Humility We Add Gentleness.

A. Gentleness as closely related to humility (meekness in NKJV).

"Meekness is that unresisting, uncomplaining disposition of mind, which enables us to bear without irritation or resentment the faults and injuries of others." Charles Hodge

Related to bearing with one another– "To bear with another… is to put with his faults and idiosyncrasies, knowing that we have our own." Wood

B. Gentleness is the opposite of arrogance and is another characteristic of our Savior

Mt. 11:29– Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

C. Gentleness works hard at not hurting the people around us who we are supposed to love and serve.

"We do not walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called if we be not faithful friends to all Christians, and sworn enemies to all sin." Matthew Henry

III. Longsuffering and Life in Community.

A. The last element we are going to consider this morning of the Spirit-filled life lived in community is longsuffering = patience (self-restraint that enables one to bear injury and insult without resorting to hasty retaliation – EBC).

B. James helps us understand the place of patience in the Spirit-filled life lived in community.

Jam. 5:9-11– Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! ¹⁰My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. ¹¹Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended bythe Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

C. It is important for us to notice that in telling us about patience/longsuffering, James starts by addressing grumbling in relationships, 9a – grumbling against brothers/sisters

1. This exact word is only used 6 times in the NT and it often translated sighor groan.

2. Looking at how this word is used, we can conclude that what James is addressing is the frustration with one another that so easily takes over us.

a. The groan when someone takes OURpew.

b. The murmuring under the breath when someone retells a story we already heard a couple of times.

c. The rolling of the eyes when someone makes a suggestion that we think is dumb.

d. The sarcastic comment designed to put somebody back on his/her place.

3. Because of what James says a little later, this grumbling seems to be the result of being mistreated by other Christians because of their standing for what the Bible says – particular the example of the prophets.

4. Arguing from the greater to the lesser, if this is all true concerning real wrongs, how much more then is it true about the little things of life that frustrate us.

D.The encouragement James gives us not to grumble is Jesus's presence, 9b.

1. Jesus, the Judge, is at the door – he is near.

2. James is helping us sees that these grumblings against the brethren is something that Jesus really cares about.

3. Not only that, it is as if James is saying that this is something that will receive his immediate attention as Judge.

E. James shows us that he is not asking for something undoable by siting the prophets, 10-11 – the prophets were patient.

"… a state of emotional calm in the face of provocation or misfortune and without complaint or irritation…." Louw-Nida

F. The solution James offers: be patient, 10b-11.

1. James expresses the idea of patience with two words in this passage: macrothumiaand hupomone.

a. The first word carries more of the idea of patience as we think of it – kindly putting up with someone or something.

b. The second word carries the idea of "capacity to continue to bear up under difficult circumstances…." Louw-Nida

2. Both words carry the meaning that patience is always exercised in the context of difficult situations.

a. It is a characteristic of love, 1 Cor. 13:4.

b. It is produced by tribulations and results in hope, Rom. 5:3-4.

c. It is an attribute of God.

Rom. 15:5-6– Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind andone mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

d. It is the opposite of retaliation.

1 Thess. 5:14-15– Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

e. It is to be pursued by the man of God.

1 Tim. 6:11– But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

f. It is to be present in every relationship, especially between Christians.

Eph. 4:1-3– I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

IV. How can I be patient?

A. Patience is an evidence of a Spirit-filled life.

Gal. 5:22-23– But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

B. Patience is based on selflessness – we go back to humility here.

1. This is the most important aspect of patience.

2. Lack of patience is based on pride.

Eccl.7:8 – The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patientin spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

3. Usually, when we are not patient with somebody, it is because we think that we are not getting what we deserve from that relationship.

4. Lack of patience is based on a high view of ourselves.

"The Christian should not be putting his own interests first, and taking a strong line with those who do not agree with him. Rather, he must be patient with all men, bearing their manners, and patiently seeking to lead them in the way of the Lord. It is more important for him that he be able to render them some service than his ego should be satisfied." Leon Morris

C. Patience is learned by the operation of the Holy Spirit through the reading of the Scriptures (sign of strong faith).

Rom. 15:1-7– We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. ²Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. ³For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me." ⁴For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. ⁵May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, ⁶that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁷Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

D.Patience is a result of close walk and dependence on God.

Col. 1:9-12– And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. ¹¹May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, ¹²giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

1. Prayer is necessary for us to be patient, 9.

2. Being strengthen by God (not on our own strength) is necessary for us to be patient, 11.

3. Bearing spiritual fruit in every good work is necessary for us to be patient, 10.

a. In verse 11 we find the words "for all endurance and patience."

b. The word translated "for" should be translated as "unto."

c. This indicates that patience and longsuffering are the results of what Paul has said in verses 10-11.

E. Being patient is not the same as tolerating sin.

1. The Scriptures do not teach that we are to tolerate sin

2. However, even in dealing with sin, we have to exhibit that humble patience that God himself exhibit toward us.

2 Pt. 3:9– The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsufferingtoward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

V. What Are the Results of Being Patient with One Another?

A. Being patient with one another brings joy to our lives (same with humility).

Col. 1:11– May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy…

B. Being patient with one another enables us to be thankful to the Father for what he has done for us.

Col. 1:12– …giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

C. Patience with one another builds everybody up.

Rom. 14:1-3– As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. ²One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables.³Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.

D.Being patient with one another brings glory to God.

Rom. 14:6– The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.

Conclusion

Life in community! That's what we were recreated in Jesus Christ for. And we live life in community with humility, gentleness, and longsuffering.

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